Hollinger Corp. 

pHas 



ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE 



TWO LITERARY SOCIETIES 



OF THE 



UNIVERSITY W mm CMOllNil, 



June 6, 1849j 



BY HON. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM. 



PUBUSHED BY ORDER OF THE DIALECTIC SOCIETY. 



RALEIGH, N. C. 

PUBLISHED BY SEATON GALES. 

1849. 



Dialectic Hall, July 29, 1849. 
Sir: 

The undersigned have been appointed a Committee, to ten- 
der to you the grateful acknowledgements of the Dialectic Soci- 
ety, for the very instructive and appropriate Address which you 
delivered before the two Literary Societies, in Gerard Hall, on 
the day preceding our Annual Commencement, and to request a 
copy for publication. 

Permit us, sir, personally to express our wishes that you will 
comply with the request of the body which we represent. 
With very high respect, 

WASHINGTON C. KERR, 
HENRY HARDIE, 
SAMUEL E. WHITFIELD. 
Hon. William A. Graham. 



Hillsborough, August IZth, 1849., 
Gentlemen : 

I have had the honor to receive your favor, expressing the 
acknowledgments of the Dialectic Society for the Address de- 
livered by me, under their appointment, at the late Commence- 
ment of the University, and requesting a copy for publication. 

Actuated by the sense of duty which prompted the under- 
taking of this task, I do not hesitate to comply Avith the request 
you have so politely communicated, though satisfied that the So- 
ciety has estimated the Address above its merits. 
I am. Gentlemen, with high respect, 

Your obedient servant, 

WILL: A. GRAHAM 
Messrs. Washington C. Kerr, ) 

Henry Hardie, \ Committee. 

Samuel E. Whitfield, S 



ADDREO. 



Gentlemen of the Dialectic and 

Philanthropic Societies : 

I come to acquit myself of an obligation I could not disre- 
gard, and to attest my sense of the distinction you have been 
pleased to confer, however much I regret that the cause of letters, 
and this ocra ion of ever recurring interest, have not a more fit 
representativi . Though poor must be my contribution to the 
annual festival of the friends of learning, so redolent of pleasant, 
but mournful remembrances of the past, and joyful hopes of the 
future, so cheering to our country and our University, in view of 
the intellectual harvests which have been here gathered, and of 
those which are in promise, I could not decline the grateful office 
of welcoming forth those, who, having finished with approbation 
their course here, now go forward to the duties and trials of man- 
hood, and of speaking a word of encouragement and counsel to 
the ingenuous youth, who continue in these peaceful shades, 
pursuing \he same liberal studies. 

It would, doubtless, be a most agreeable communication, could 
one, who after a long separation, returns to bear a part in the 
ceremonies of this day, and finds in these classic halls, a new 
generation, emulous in every ennobling quality, announce any 
discovery or improvement, in an age so abounding in wonderful 
changes, by which the student could be relieved of the toil and 
labor now deemed indispensable for his discipline, and by which, 
youth could be at once invested with the wisdom and learning, 
thus far attainable only by long years of uidustrious application. 



Insomuch as mlglit depend on the suftVages of Collegiates, such 
an improvement would certainly entitle its author to a place in 
the most delightful region of those Elysian fields, "svhich Virgil 
has consecrated to Heroes and Sages and the inventors of other 
useful arts. But however sincere would be the pleasure enjoyed, 
as well as imparted, by the bearer of such tidings, I am charged, 
my young friends, with no such mission. It was the consolation 
of the scholar, under the afflictions of neglect, persecution and 
poverty, in the monarchies of the old world, that "there Avas no 
royal road to learning." Whatever other advantages we have 
gained under our freer institutions, we have found it equally true, 
that there is no popular road. The acquisitions of liberal schol- 
arship are neither elective nor hereditary, but the results only of 
the patient toils of genius. Neither place, nor power, nor wealth, 
can bestow them — no canons of succession transmit them. They 
are the purchase only of the ingenuous mind. Yielding, there- 
fore, to that necessity which is our common lot, let us not lament 
nor despond : but rather rejoice, that they are prizes held out for 
the free competition of all, and endeavor to alleviate our labors, 
and illumine our path, in their pursuit, by a cursory review of 
the objects of a liberal education. The subject has no claim to 
novelty, but it may not be unprofitable, occasionally to examine 
the grounds of our opinion and practice, though they challenge 
general approbation. 

The objects of a Liberal Education ! Why the endow- 
ment of Colleges, and establishment of Professorships, and the 
tedious and laborious course of studies required for graduation ? 
When Omar, the Mahometan Caliph of Egypt, was entreated not 
to consign to the flames the magnificent Library at Alexandria, 
the repository of the productions of the human mind for forty-six 
centuries of the world's history, he replied: "If there be that, 
" contained in these books, which accords with the Koran, the 
"latter is all sufficient without them ; but if there be any thing 
" repugnant to that sacred book, we can have no need of them. 
"Order them, therefore, all to be destroyed." The historian 
informs us, that they were accordingly made to supply fuel for 
the luxurious baths of that Capitol, for more than six months, 
until the whole were consumed. Perhaps, in impatience and 
despondency of mastering the ponderous volumes prescribed to 
him, the modem stvident mav sometimes indulge a momentarv 



5 

regret, that a .summal^•, alike compendious with tlie Koran, had 
not been digested of the discipline and knowledge required lor hiw 
instruction, and that all other books, if not doomed to the fate of 
the Alexandrian Library, had been at leawt postponed from his 
tasks, until, with a more matured mind, and greater conversancy 
with the world, he could perceive the advantage^ utility or plea- 
sure he was to derive from learning their contents. If we, like 
the fanatical and destructive Caliph, aspired to nothing more 
than a life of conquest, rapine and violence here, and sensual 
indulgence hereafter, we might readily content ourselves with 
like vieAVS of the extent and utility of study and information. — 
But formed for a nobler destiny, we are impressed with the ne- 
cessity of cultivating our powers for its fuliilment, as reasonable 
and immortal creatures. 

The design of all education being to prepare the young for the 
duties and employments of life, the system has no doubt varied with 
the phases and progress of society in different ages. When the 
strongest arm, the most dextrous spear, lance or scimctai-, or even 
the successful combinations of embattled hosts, were the tests of 
human excellence, and Hercules or Achilles, Sampson or 
Richard cceur de Lion, were the impersonations of all that com- 
manded the admiration of men, there was but little need of a refi- 
ned taste, a critical knowledge of Languages, of Mathematics, or of 
Physical or Moral Science. Even in times and countries where 
learning was esteemed and cultivated, the zeal and energies of its 
votaries were too often w^asted in futile speculations and vagaries, 
and the aspiring youth, fired with a noble ardor for intellectual 
distinction, w^as doomed to wear- out his life in the intricacies of a 
vain philosophy, or a false theology, which has been dissipated, as 
the mists of the morning, before the light of the Christian and le- 
formed religion, or in the labyrinths of metaphysical disputation, 
serving no other end than to whet the mental appetite, without fur- 
nishing it any appropriate food. And since the establishment of 
Universities, which were unknown to the Ancients, and have arisen 
consequently to the revival of letters, after the dark ages of history, 
much that once engaged their attention, and procured for their 
sophisters high Academic honors, has been found unequal to the 
scrutiny of common sense, and of that new philosophy of which 
Lord Bacon was the founder, and ha* been exploded as obsolete 
liedantrv. 



6 

Having our lot cast in a period favored beyond all others, 
because blessed with the light of their experience, and the re- 
searches and inventions of our own, our scherr\e of instruction is, 
of course, designed to fit us to act well our parts, in the maturity 
of knowledge, and the higher civilization which it is our privilege 
to enjoy. With Governments of vast and complicated affairs, 
appealing to justice, truth and reason, instead of force, in every 
step of their administration ; with systems of Law, attempting to 
define every individual right, and the appropriate remedy for its 
infraction ; — a Medical Art, which puts in requisition a knowledge 
of the mmutest functions of our bodily organs, and calls on all 
the kingdoms of nature for its remedies ; — a Theology, which, 
though simple and easily intelligible in its essential features, runs 
back in its details and history, through all the learned languages 
of the world, to the very origin of our race ; — with a Literature, 
preserving for our use the wisdom and learning of past ages ; — 
when Commerce brings us into acquaintance and friendly com- 
petition with all the nations of the earth, and every Art is becom- 
ing illustrated, adorned and dignified by the discoveries of Sci- 
ence ; a system of Education, corresponding in its provisions 
with this stage in the progress of mankind, is obviously necessary. 
And modern nations, sensible of this necessity, instead of leaving 
such provision to be made by the voluntary and unaided efforts 
of the friends of learning,, as was the case even in the most pol- 
ished ages of Greece and Rome, have established Universities in 
their fundamental systems of Government. Not to supersede 
inferior Schools, but as a part of the same system ; to supply the 
wants of the noble aspirants, whose thirst for knowledge has not 
been quenched at these humbler fountains of learning. Not that 
it is expected that every youth can participate in their teachings, 
however desii-able it may be among a free people that all should, 
but because the State will be remunerated for their endowment, 
if those who do, shall become worthy representatives of their age 
and country, in useful and elegant erudition and good morals. 

If, in the estimation of Cicero, himself " a sublime specimen 
"of the perfection to which the best parts, with the best culture, 
" can exalt human nature," the education of an Orator, the fin- 
ished scholar of his day, should comprehend "a knowledge of 
every thing in nature or art, worthy to be known," this standard 
ought, at least, to be kept in view, in an age near two thousand 



years svibsequent, ancl enriched by the prodigious advancement 
in knowledge of tilings human and divine, which has been made 
in the mean time. Tried by this standard, the systems of our 
Universities are rather deficient than redundant. For, althougli 
it were extravagance to suppose, that he expected an education to 
be completed in the period allotted for graduation with us, yet 
the foundations here laid, in all their length and breadth, are 
barely sufficient for the superstructure which he recommends, 
and of which he afforded so brilliant an example. But if such a 
model of a thorough education is to be reached, or approached 
even, in the course of a studious life, it can only be after the 
mind has been strengthened and furnished for the work, with all 
due preparation. The course of Collegiate instruction, therefore, 
while it expands the thoughts, stores the memory with useful 
truths, and forms and corrects the taste, is carefully arranged by 
a series of gradations, to discipline the understanding to the habit 
and the love of study, so that it may acquire the power to labor 
with perseverance, if not with pleasure, on whatsoever subject 
its faculties may be employed. And although in its pursuit, we 
may often stand in need of the consoling advice of Sir Edward 
Coke, to his pupil in the Common Law, that "albeit the stu- 
" dent shall not at any one day, do what he -can, reach to the full 
"meaning of all that is here laid down, let him no way discour- 
" age himself, but proceed, for on some other day, in some other 
"place, his doubts will probably be removed," we must constant- 
ly bear in mind, at least in the earlier stages of our progress, that 
these exactions have not been made by the fancies of pedantic 
schoolmen, but have been devised with care and deliberation by 
the concurrent opinions of the scholars and statesmen of our own 
age, as well as those who have gone before us ; and that they 
being judges, he who hopes to excel in any intellectual employ- 
ment, will be helped forward to the goal of his ambition by com- 
plete proficiency in this course of preparation. 

The time would soon fail us, to pass in review the branches 
of study it embraces, and to vindicate the claim of each, to the 
place it occupies in the system. But avoiding such tedious 
recital, and without presuming to invade the province of the 
learned and zealous Instructors, whose enlightened labors are 
enjoyed by this Institution, I may be permitted to say, that so 
much as is here taught in any department, is useful, nay, irapor- 



tant to be learned, b}- every one who aspires lo liberal scholarship, 
without reference to the idea he may have formed of the peculiar 
adaptations of his genius, or the course in life he may contem- 
plate. Those who consider this a mere Procrustean process, and 
contend for fostering only the natural inclinations of the mind, 
must be reminded, that, as the first rudiments of learning are to 
be overcome by all, these are but rudiments to him who would 
attain to the higher departments of knowledge, and the generous 
culture of his faculties. Independently of the difficulty of pro- 
nouncing too early, and without sufficient trial, on the peculiar 
powers Ave have derived from nature, true genius will not b© 
impeded in her celestial flight, nor shine less brightly in her 
destined orbit, for having disciplined, her strength in the circuit 
of science, and adorned her plumage with the graces of general 
literature. That many of these studies have no immediate 
connexion with the actual business of mankind, makes them no 
exception. It has been strikingly remarked by a writer of our 
own day, (in vindication of the study of the ancient classics) that 
a course of education for the young, " should form a distinct 
"mental character, from which the professional character of af- 
" ter years may derive liberality and warmth, to correct its nat- 
" ural selfishness and exclusiveness." If some of them be found 
dry, uninteresting, severe and difficult, it must be recollected 
that they are exercises which may qualify us to grapple with the 
more abstruse branches of knowledge, or for the exigencies which 
await us in life ; as the Roman soldier of those armies which 
conquered the world, was always trained in arms of double the 
weight, required in real action, and these trainings were so un- 
remitted in all seasons and under all circumstances, that the very 
name of army became identical with that of exercise. It is the 
duty of instruction to endeavor to awaken interest and curiosity 
in their pursuit, so as to render them as attractive as possible to 
the noviciate mind, and I doubt not that office is well performed 
now, as heretofore, within these walls. It has been the reproach, 
however, of collegiate learning, that it is acquired too much as a 
task and by rote, and that graduates even want the familiar and 
dextrous use of it, which shows it to have been thoroughly in- 
corporated Avith their stores of knowledge. And it seems to be 
reserved for the philosophic Germans, with whom the art of 
teaching (not the quantum of acquirement in the- teacher) is 



among tlie liitjliest objects of ambition to discover and apply the 
true corrective for this defect. But witli all the adventitious 
aids of Professors and Universities, the acquirements of the Stu- 
dent must depend, at least mainly, upon himself, and unless he 
shall master these studies, and make the knowledge, spirit and 
taste of the authors of his text-books his own, his labor will be in 
a great measure in vain. I by no means design to inculcate, that 
the attention to these studies should be so exclusive that no other 
knowledge should be sought during the collegiate term ; on the 
contrary, in the intervals of leisure enjoyed by the diligent Stu- 
dent, much may be added to his treasures of various information, 
without encroachment on his hours of recreation and amusement. 
But I have been thus emphatic in the expression of my convic- 
tion, that they should be the primary object of pursuit, because 
I doubt whether there be any error more injurious in its effects 
to the literature of our country, than the too frequent one of the 
early choice of profession or pursuit in life, by young men of 
genius, and their consequent neglect of all liberal studies, unless 
their direct connexion with this one pursuit is obvious and man- 
ifest. Where this mistake has been committed, a liberal educa- 
tion, if attempted by, or forced upon, the impatient aspirant, is 
not sought with the alacrity which his natural parts and spirit 
would inspire. He devotes no more attention to those branches 
of which the utility to him is not clearly perceived, than i» 
necessary to obtain a degree, and narrows the energies of hit 
capacious mind to a single end. To him Professorships, and all 
the appliances of instruction, beyond his chosen field, are of no 
value ; and his favorite studies could be carried on with almost 
equal advantages elsewhere as here. The effects of such a 
course are too visibly before us everywhere, to require mention. 
It makes us artisans in our several callings, not scholars — useful 
men, of intellectual acumen and professional intelligence, but 
without the varied learning and polite accomplishments we might 
have acquired by a proper improvement of our opportunities. It 
perverts the intention of our system of instruction, and gives it a 
wrong direction. It has been objected to the Grecian system, of 
which the Roman was but an imperfect copy, that it bestowed 
too much attention on mere elegance and accomplishment, while 
the pursuit of useful knowledge was neglected. Ours, intended 
in its theory to embrace both of these objects, tends in its actual 
prosecution to the merely mechanical and utilitarian. 



10 

Most persons excuse Ihemselses for the curtailment of their 
course of preparatory study, and taking this nearer way to fame 
and fortune, by their supposed want of time for greater attainments. 
And considering the briefness of our active life, and the necessary 
interruptions to which the most vigorous plans of application are 
subject, it is important that none of it be w^asted. But by acting 
on the sentiment of the Italian philosopher, mentioned in one of 
the essays of the Rambler, that " time was his estate," which 
yielded nothing without culture, but made rich returns to 
diligence and labor, much more may be accomplished in the 
space allotted to us, than is generally imagined. 

Others apprehend that such a course of mental exercise and 
discipline, is calculated to 

"■ Freeze the genial currents of the soul," 

and doom them to austerity and servitude — forgetting that a 
life of diligence and industry, is not by any means a life of 
drudgery. Labors, it is true, are demanded ; but they are the 
labors of Hercules, triumphing over obstacles — not the ineffectual 
exertions of Sysiphus. And although they were multiplied 
twelve-fold, they would be well imposed, did they but subdue 
sloth, that wicked foe to all generous effort and enterprize, and 
give us active, intrepid, and well furnished minds. But as every 
advance in knowledge opens a new scene of delight, the toils so 
appalling to indolence and despondency vanish away in our 
progress, et labor ipse est voluntas. 

But the eager desire to leap into the arena of affairs, and 
participate in the stirring events of the learned professions, or of 
politics, is in our young and adv^enturous country, one great 
obstacle to the liberal culture of the mind. In such a country, 
life itself is a school in which practical affairs are practically 
taught with but a limited course of previous education, and with 
its keen competitions and excitements daily before us, it is difficult 
to command the patience and perseverance necessary to profound 
and extensive erudition. And unless the habit of study and taste 
for generous learning has been established in early life, it will 
be in vain to look for them afterwards. It is in the department of 
public speaking that the candidate for distinction usually makes 
his debut before the world. It has been said of the British empire, 
that since the restoration of the second Charles and the practical 



11 

chai\gcs wrought in the CoiL^titution by the Jlcvohitioii \vhicl> 
preceded it, eloquence has usuiped the place of wisdom, and 
the Government has been under the control of Parliamentary 
debaters, many of whom have been profoundly ignorant of the 
departments of the public service, which, on account of this 
species of talent alone, they have been called to administer, and 
that " a Premier who can make a successful speech, need trouble 
"himself little about an unsuccessful expedition." Making 
every abatement for the overdrawing of this picture, it must be 
admitted that in that country, and in this, public affairs are in a 
great measure controlled by oral discussion. Hence the natural 
wish among us to excel in this qualification ; and although but 
few, comparatively, have attained to the higher grades of elo- 
quence, no nation probably ever presented so great an array of rea- 
dy public speakers. But by far the greater part seem content with 
this one acquirement, and push their intellectual exercises no 
further. We abound much more in speakers than writers — 
satisfied with the temporary success and renown obtained with 
the freest indulgence of the Oratorical license, the larger number 
have little claim to the taste, discipline and accuracy of thought 
required for correct and elegant composition. Both speaking 
and writing, however, are but arts, designed to pourtray the 
productions of the mind. Unless it has been inspired with a true 
taste, enlarged and exercised by study, and stored with generous 
knowledge, no rhetoric can supply its deficiencies, nor give 
excellence to its eff'usions. And although the public and profes- 
sional affairs, to which allusion has been made, may be conducted 
without liberal learning, yet he who aspires to high eminence or 
permanent fame in these pursuits, will be greatly advanced by 
its aid. Burke had many rivals among his contemporaries, w^ho 
successfully contested with him the palm of eloquence on the 
floor of Parliament, but from the inexhaustible resources of his 
philosophic and cultivated mind, and his brilliant attractions as a 
writer, he has left them far behind in the race for posthumous 
distinction, and has embalmed even the ephemeral party contro- 
versies of his day in a diction which will preserve them to future 
ages. Other examples of the advantages derived to statesmen 
and men of affairs from liberal learning, will readily occur to the 
reader of the history of all enlightened nations. And he who 
neglects it in our country, under the imprc-sion that it Avill he 



12 

needless to him iii these pursuits on \vhich he is so anxiou<; la 
enter, usually discovers his mistake at too late a period of life 
for its correction. 

By spending the collegiate term in the generous culture of 
all the faculties, and the acquirement of a liberal store of knowl- 
edge, the horizon of the emulous Student becomes enlarged, the 
field for selection of a path in life is extended ; perchance that 
once contemplated is not found best suited to his capacities and 
tastes, and he enters upon the journey in whatever direction, 
animis opibus que paratus, for noble exertion and continued 
improvement. He regards his collegiate exercises as but a 
preparation for self-education, and impressed with the true dignity 
of science, he continues his devotions at her shrine, no matter 
where necessity or choice may demand his chief attention. Only 
such a course of education deserves to be styled "liberal;" by 
such only is the intellectual character of our country to be elevated, 
and our alma maier to be " honored in her children." 

No system of education, however, would be complete, which 
aimed merely at intellectual culture and attainments, and neglected 
the morals, the heart and the affections. Fortunately for us, the 
culture of these is attended with no difficult and painful study^ 
but is taught in the pages of revealed truth. Commencing in 
infancy around the knees of the mother, our duties are learned 
in the precepts of the decalogue ; and the heavenly charities of 
imperfect obligation inculcated in the maxims and parables of the 
New Testament. AH the ethics of the schools, and pure systems 
of morality among men, but confirm and illustrate these sublime 
doctrines. And the virtues which are their fruits give to the 
human character all its loveliness and real dignity. While, 
therefore, generous studies are assiduously pursued, an enlight- 
ened moral sense, and an inflexible determination to conform your 
conduct to its dictates, should be habitually cultivated. In this 
connexion, perhaps it is not below the dignity of the occasion, to 
commend to your attention the culture of the "lesser morals," 
or a proper standard of manners and conversation, for the same 
reason assigned by Aristotle, for the study of music by the 
young Greeks, "that so the mind may be taught how honorably 
" to pursue business, and how creditably to enjoy leisure; for 
•' such enjoyment is, after all, the end of business and the boun- 
'* dary of active life." 



18 

Tlie time will not permit u.s to enlarge on tlie boundless fieldt 
6f knowledge which lie open to the man of liberal culture, or the 
fame, satisfaction or advantage to be derived from reaping the 
harvests they afford. Suffer me, my young friends, to conclude 
these undigested remarks, with the expression of my sincere hope 
that each one of you may realize the fond desires of his parents, 
by attaining the highest excellence in all generous Icarnino- and 
good morals, and that our University may long continue the nur- 
sery of genius, the pride and ornament of the State. 

Geati.emejv of the Graduating Class : 

Though it is near a quarter of a century since I was honored 
with the degi-ee you are about to receive, and quitted these scenes 
for the active pursuits of life, I well remember the emotions of 
that day, and can readily participate in your hopes and appre- 
hensions, your joys and sorrows. Thurfar, you have lived under 
the kind direction of your parents and of the authorities of this 
Institution. You are now to be segregated from the Colleo-e 
community of which you have formed an important part, and to 
assume the control of your own conduct, as members of civil 
society. Each one of you is an object of affectionate reo-ard to 
his family and friends, who have looked forward to this period of 
his life with deep interest, and from the certificate of hberal 
scholarship and good morals, now conferred, becomes at once an 

object of mark and distinction in his sphere of acquaintance. 

Bearing the testimonial of superior opportunities of improvement 
enjoyed, you will be expected to possess correspondino- acquire- 
ments and qualifications. Favored beyond most of your contem- 
poraries in the enjoyment of those opportunities, they will be re- 
garded as a talent committed to your charge, of which you must 
render an account in your subsequent life. At such a point in 
your existence, I would that I could furnish any precepts to be 
chronicled in your memories, that might direct you with safetv 
honor and usefulness in the scenes through w'hich you are to pass. 
In the ever varying circumstances which attend us, the principles 
of moral and religious truth, in which you have been so often 
instructed in this place, afford the only reliable chart for your 
j^uidancc. These, I nr-iy not presume, " can come mended from 
my tongue." There arc a few guggcstion.s. however, on other 



14 

topics, wlilcli may not be wholly useless. In our stirring, active, 
energetic nation, with every thing tending to the practical afiairf? 
of life, we have not as yet, and are not likely soon to have, a 
body of Professors of literature and science merely. And if we 
wait the coming of Johnsons, Goldsmiths, Humes, or Macau- 
leys, exclusive devotees of learning, to establish a literary 
character for our country, we shall probably enact the fable of 
the rustic described by Horace, who sat by the river's side, and 
expected it to ebb away. Without pensions or patronage from 
Government, with the engrossing demands of public affairs of the 
professions and of business, calling for new employe's in their 
departments, liberal learning among us, for a long time to come, at 
least, is to be cultivated not by a separate order of writers, but 
by those who snatch time from other avocations for its pursuit ; 
and its chief dependence for preservation at all must be upon 
the alumni of our Universities. I conjure you, therefore, for " the 
studies' sake," to which you are indebted for your present dis- 
tinction, not to permit your tastes in letters to become extinct, 
but to add to your present acquirements on every fitting opportu- 
nity. This will be an easy task, if undertaken with a moderate 
degree of attention now^, but wall become more and more difficult 
tlic longer it may be deferred. I fear it argues, however, a gross 
negligence of generous studies, or that our courage is unequal to 
our capacities, that there is not a more general diffusion of polite 
learning among the men of education in our country. Instead 
of apologizing for the w^ant of it, by necessary attention to the 
demands upon our time by public trusts, our professions or busi- 
ness, we ought to remember that some of the most eminent vo- 
taries of elegant and profound learning were persons, who, at the 
very time when pursuing these studies, bore their full share in 
similar employments, and equally laborious. Not to recur again 
to Cicero, (whose excellent biography by Middleton cannot 
be too often read by men of affairs, to overcome sloth and revive 
their courage for mental labor) it may be sufficient to particular- 
ize Bacon, Burke and Brougham, in English history, Lamar- 
TiNE, GuizoT, Thiers and Arago, at the present day, in France, 
and omitting many others in our country. Murphy, Taylor and 
Gaston, in our own State. These were persons not slothful in 
business, but who adorned business as w^ell as leisure, with the 
^•harms oi polite erudition. Whatever, tjicrofore, be your pious 



15 

of lllc, whether to embark In the Professions, in Agriculturf; 
Commerce or other business, or whether you entertain an hon- 
orable desire for distinction in public employment, a true taste, 
love of learning and a desire for fui-ther advancement in knowledge, 
should be habitually cherished. 

But if these be neglected or deemed impracticable, and the 
fair flowers which have been here nourished should bear no suclial 
fruit, remember, that there can be no excuse for a failure to 
illustrate your lives by enlarged views of integrity, justice, truth, 
lionor and benevolence, in your several spheres of action. Not 
by an abstract and outward admiration of these virtues, but an 
inflexible adherence to their impulses, under every variety and 
change of circumstances. And your education will have proved 
defective in its most essential object, if with the precepts of 
religion and of reason, and the examples of history, it has not 
imparted to you the force of will to maintain right and resist 
wrong, come what may. 

As citizens of a Republic who have been by your studies 
made acquainted with the Constitution and Government of vour 
counti-y, and w^ho have also been 

" By ancient learning, to the enlightened love 
Of ancient freedom w^armed," 

you feel a natural admiration of her noble Institutions, and a just 
pride in her fame. It will now devolve on you to bear your 
parts in giving direction to her Government, and in upholding 
these Institutions. The study of her history, the trials, perils and 
xufTerings through which she has passed, and of the characters 
of the sages and patriots who founded her Governments, and 
under the Providence of God, conducted her affairs to the most 
favorable results, will engage your attention, not only as subjects 
of liberal knowledge, but of personal interest and duty. In these 
you will learn what sacrifices were required to achieve our 
National Independence, and what anxious days and sleepless 
nights it cost the Father of his Country, and his associates, to 
establish our National Union. You will thus be inspired with 
true loyalty and attachment to that country, and prepared to hold 
fast to that Union " as the sheet anchor of our peace at home, 
and safety abroad." For sixty years it has secured to us justice 
and domestic tranquility, and conferred on us a renown and pros- 



iG 

028 356 528 21 

perity unexampled In the history of nations. If cherished and 
defended in the spirit of sincere patriotism, wisdom and forbear- 
ance which characterized its framcrs, it will preserve the blessings 
of liberty to our remotest posterity. Such of you as may be 
called to administer its public trusts, should bear always in mind, 
that they are designed to confer only " the power to do good," 
^the " true and legitimate end of all aspiring." But whether in 
public or private station, from your course of education you will 
exercise an agency in the formation of public sentiment, and will 
be in some measure accountable for results. May you so appre- 
ciate this responsibility, as to keep always in view the precepts of 
justice, wisdom and patriotism, and to derive additional lustre to 
your own characters, from the brightness of that career which, 
under the blessing of heaven, we trust awaits our country. 



U U^U vl 



Holling 
pH 



A 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



028 356 528 2 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH 8.5 



